Guard rail



Dec. 17, 1935.

A. BRICKMAN ET AL.

GUARD RAIL Filed Aug. 14, 1934 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GUARD RAIL Application August 14, 1934, Serial No.'739,826

'3 Claims. (Cl. 256-13.1)

This invention relates to guard rails of the type using 'fiat metalstrips, one of the objects being to properly tension the stripsregardless of the expansive and contractive effects caused bytemperature changes. Another object is to reduce the tendency that acolliding vehicle has to climb over the strips. Other objects may beinferred.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an example of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of another example of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken from the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.

More specifically, Figures 1 and 2 show a guard rail including a flatspring metal member I that is looped at both sides of its center as atla, so as to bring its end portions Ib together, ,its ends being cut andformed to provide interfitting and mutually registering elongated loopsI". The fiat metal strips 2 are arranged with their ends adjacentlyabutting and fixed to the end portions Ib whereby they are urgedtogether by the elasticity of the member I. A pin 3 is arranged throughthe elongated loops Ic so that a construction somewhat like a looselyfitting piano hinge results.

The spring member I constantly maintains the proper tension in thestrips 2. If a colliding vehicle strikes one of the strips 2 so thatsufficient force is transmitted to the member I to cause it to spreadexcessively, the looped ends I engage the pin 3 and prevent theconnection between the strips 2 from being broken, or introducing toomuch slack.

In Figures 3 through 5 the member I is mounted through a springmetal'bar 4 by one of the guard rail posts 5 in an upright position byits upper part so that its lower part may swing towards the post.

The post 5 is a steel section and is flared away from the member I, andthe lower part of the member I is mounted by a spring-steel yoke 6 thatrests against the post so as to be expanded by the latters nared shapewhen forced towards it.

The second example is further distinguished in that the metal strips 2have their top edges bent backwardly, as at 2a.

The member I in this second example functions in the same manner as itdoes in the first example, so far as maintenance of strip tensions isconcerned. However, it also functions to mount the strips in a verticalplane in such a manner that a colliding vehicle can force the stripsfrom a vertical plane so that they assume a downwardly angling positionwhich tends to wedge 5 the vehicle beneath it. It is for this purposethat the backward angling portions 2au are provided, since otherwiseexcessive damage to the vehicle might result from the cutting action ofthe sharp-edged strips. The angular position of 10 the strips ispossible because the spring bar 4 is suniciently elastic to act as ahinging mount, while the-elasticity of the yoke tends to resist swingingmotion of the member I by wedging action on the iiared post 5. 15

We claim:

l. A guard rail including a fiat spring metal member that is looped atboth sides of its center so as to bring its end portions together andwhich has its ends cut and formed to provide interfitting 20 andmutually registering elongated loops, at metal strips having adjacentlyabutting ends fixed to said end portions and urged together by theelasticity of said member and a pin arranged through'said elongatedloops.. 25

2. A guard rail including a flat spring metal member that is looped atboth sides of its center so as to bring its end portions together andwhich has its ends cut and formed to provide interi'itting and mutuallyregistering elongated loops, 30 fiat metal strips having adj acentlyabutting ends fixed to said end portions and urged together by theelasticity of said member, a post and a spring metal bar mounting saidmember in an upright position by its upper part so that its lower part35 may swing toward said post.

3. A guard rail including a flat spring metal member that is looped atboth sides of its center so as to bring its end portions together andwhich has its ends cut and formed to provide in- 40 terfitting andmutually registering elongated loops, :dat metal strips havingadjacently abutting ends fixed to said end portions and urged togetherby the elasticity of said member, a post and a spring metal bar mountingsaid member in an upright position by its upper part so that its lowerpart may swing towards said post, the latter being flared away from saidmember and the lower part of said member being mounted by 50 a yoke thatrests against said post so as to be expanded by the latters flared shapewhen forced theretowards.

ALAN E. BRICKMAN. GEORGE A. GLEASON. 55

